Nowitzki, Howard lead Mavericks past Raptors

Nov 8, 12:06 am EST

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DALLAS (AP)—The Dallas Mavericks had a perfect night, welcoming back swingman Josh Howard(notes) in a blowout win.

Dirk Nowitzki(notes) had 29 points and nine rebounds, and Howard scored 16 points in his season debut in the Mavericks’ 129-101 victory over Toronto on Saturday night.

Howard was in the starting lineup after missing all of the preseason and the first five games while recovering from surgery on his left ankle and left wrist in May.

He was a little jittery at the beginning, but he quickly settled down with some aggressive moves to the basket.

“I was nervous as heck out there,” he said. “But after I made my first couple free throws, I was fine.”

He admitted he’ll be sore for a while, but he was pleased with his performance after adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals in 24 minutes.

“It’s something I have to keep working through,” Howard said. “Of course I’m fatigued and I have to work through the process of getting back to 100 percent, which I’m not. But I felt pretty good, getting back in the swing of things. I had a good time out there.”

Jason Terry(notes) added 19 points, and Shawn Marion(notes) had 18 points and eight rebounds for Dallas, hitting his last nine attempts from the field.

Marion saw flashes of the Mavericks’ offensive potential in his first game with Howard. Marion joined the Mavericks from the Raptors in a multiple-team trade in July.

“It felt good, but a little weird because we haven’t been out there,” Marion said. “It’s always good to have another weapon out there.”

Dallas native Chris Bosh(notes) had 26 points and 12 rebounds for Toronto, and Andrea Bargnani(notes) added 22 points.

Toronto opened a three-game trip Friday night with a 107-90 victory at New Orleans, but the Raptors were lethargic on the second night of the back-to-back.

“It was our first back-to-back, and they got off to a track meet,” Bosh said. “We kind of played into their game. We settled for too many jump shots. They got long rebounds and were off to the races.”

The Raptors set a club record with eight 3-pointers in the third quarter against the Hornets, but Toronto made only 8 of 22 from long range against Dallas.

“They went past us, and they shot over us,” Toronto coach Jay Triano said. “They had more movement and energy and had confidence in their shooting. Our energy level was low.”

Howard got off to a fast start, contributing seven points and two rebounds while playing the entire first quarter as Dallas carried a 26-25 lead into the second quarter.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was impressed with Howard’s first-quarter effort.

“He’s definitely one of the high-energy guys,” Carlisle said. “Josh was aggressive, which is his nature.”

“You’ve got to be ready when the lights go on,” said Howard, who was counted on to provide first-quarter offense for the Mavericks last season. “I want to be the guy who gets things going. I don’t want to lose that job. The one person besides myself who does a great job in the first quarter is LeBron James(notes).”

Nowitzki had 16 points in the half to lead Dallas to a 55-48 lead. Bosh had 15 points and 10 points at the break.

The Mavericks broke the game open with a 15-4 run to start the third quarter, giving Dallas a 70-52 advantage.

Nowitzki converted his first three 3-pointers and his first four field goal attempts of the third quarter to help Dallas to an 85-70 edge entering the final quarter.

Terry had 12 points in the fourth quarter and the Mavericks shot 74 percent from the floor in the second half (29-for-39).

Dallas had 24 fastbreak points to Toronto’s 12 and the Mavericks generated 21 points off 14 Raptor turnovers.

“It all starts with defense,” Marion said. “The more we play defense and get stops, the better our offense will be. We’ve got to keep that going.”

NOTES: The Mavericks have won 10 in a row at home against the Raptors. … Dallas had been off since Wednesday night when the Mavericks were beaten at New Orleans, 114-107. … The Mavericks set a season high for points … Bosh already has four double-doubles.

Updated Nov 8, 12:06 am EST
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Dallas at Cleveland

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 7:30 pm EST

Toronto vs Phoenix

Sun Nov 29, 2009, 1:00 pm EST

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24 Comments

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  1. theMan
    24. Posted by theMan Sun Nov 8 8:26pm EST

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    "15 points and 10 points at the break" ? wat?!
  2. Joey
    23. Posted by Joey Sun Nov 8 7:23pm EST

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    Here comes the Mavericks! :D
  3. Has
    22. Posted by Has Sun Nov 8 6:30pm EST

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    Love my mavs!
  4. hillbillyGUY
    21. Posted by hillbillyGUY Sun Nov 8 10:19am EST

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    Told ya' so. LoL Josh is the wildcard. With him they are great, without, just good. Can't wait for the playoffs. Obviously way too early for playoff scenarios BUT...with Josh, Denver is getting some payback IF they can get there. Hey Birdman...meet Drew Gooden...you know, the guy all up in your face. Hey Melo...That's Shawn Marion who just sent your weak jumper into the third row. Go ahead and cry like you are hurt...we all know it's an act. Melo always acts hurt, then scores 30 after the "injury". What a poser. And if he only scores 10...it was the injury.

    The Mavs are the beast in the West this season...get used to it.
  5. <i>sean_sallad41</i>
    20. Posted by sean_sallad41 Sun Nov 8 9:49am EST

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    The Mavs are getting better and better, Go Dirk, Go Mavs
  6. <i>sparda2020</i>
    19. Posted by sparda2020 Sun Nov 8 7:16am EST

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    bad turnovers that led to easy fast break points, 36% shooting, horrible defense in the second half, settling for too many jump shots...that is what killed the raps....why didn't they go to bosh more at least he could have commended double or triple teams that would have opened some lanes for some of the other guys to drive...Dallas is too great of a team to have a poor defensive and offensive night
  7. Ehsan
    18. Posted by Ehsan Sun Nov 8 5:51am EST

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    Go raptors
  8. DJ GOD
    17. Posted by DJ GOD Sun Nov 8 4:35am EST

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    Go mavs !!!!
  9. Richard L
    16. Posted by Richard L Sun Nov 8 2:55am EST

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    When you allow 129 points and 44 points in the 4th quarter, Raptors defense is really bad. Time and time again, one of the Mavs drove towards the basket and simply dish off to the trailing player right in the middle for that soft easy basket. Raptors were either too slow on a man-to-man defense or lack that big center to defend the lane traffic. I don't know if Nesterovic or Johnson could defend the middle better but Bargnani is definitely not there tonight. If Raptors do not fix this leak, other teams will simply walk all over them. Triano should take a look at the films and see how the Mavs score those baskets.
  10. Cotton Piquer
    15. Posted by Cotton Piquer Sun Nov 8 1:41am EST

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    Dirk had 29 points & 9 rebounds at the end of 3 quarters. The game was over by then.
    Barea had 12 assists. He only had 3 assists after 3 quarters. Is 9 assists in the 4th Q a Mavs record?

    Didn't the Mavs beat the Lakers @ Staples without Howard? Didn't Dirk have a 29 point 4th quarter
    in a come from behind win @ Utah, without Howard? If Terry & Barea hadn't missed 2 FT each in the last 30 seconds, wouldn't the Mavs have beaten the Hornets in NO without Howard?

    Just askin!
  11. John F
    14. Posted by John F Sun Nov 8 1:09am EST

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    To those who keep criticizing Dirk's defense, you don't help (or lead) a team win 500+ games (in over a decade) w/o being able to play some type of defense!
  12. <i>joshd221983</i>
    13. Posted by joshd221983 Sun Nov 8 12:59am EST

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    Bosh had 15 points and 10 points at the break.

    what does that mean?
  13. Dr. MAVS
    12. Posted by Dr. MAVS Sun Nov 8 12:46am EST

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    Dirk, Josh, Matrix, Jet, Kidd, a deep bench, the 'ol "run & gun" offense, and a new "no more softy" defense. The Mavs are back baby! Let's punish some teams. It's payback time. Who's next?
  14. JacobH
    11. Posted by JacobH Sun Nov 8 12:23am EST

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    Mavs baby! mavs!
  15. Icedragon
    10. Posted by Icedragon Sun Nov 8 12:13am EST

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    Looks like the Raptors forgot how to play defense.
  16. Big Tex
    9. Posted by Big Tex Sat Nov 7 11:34pm EST

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    Mavs look so much better with Howard in the game. I think this was a very breakout game to make up for the choke against the Hornets. When Howard get more acclimated this season the Mavs should be tough to beat. Looks like Bosh was making a statement with what he can do in his hometown, perhaps in a Mavs uniform next year. Go Mavs!!!
  17. Ronan Deo d
    7. Posted by Ronan Deo d Sat Nov 7 10:55pm EST

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    shut up #6.. mavs won the game.. haha.. by 28 points.. hell yeah.!
  18. <i>joelwrosenfeld</i>
    6. Posted by joelwrosenfeld Sat Nov 7 8:16pm EST

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    raps win by 10
  19. Mina I
    5. Posted by Mina I Sat Nov 7 5:50pm EST

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    dallas will win this game! raps are playing back to back games!
  20. Ole Brandenburg
    4. Posted by Ole Brandenburg Sat Nov 7 4:00pm EST

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    dallas wins, dirk will be player of the match.
  21. Trax
    3. Posted by Trax Sat Nov 7 11:49am EST

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    Bosh has a huge game tonight!
  22. <i>sparda2020</i>
    2. Posted by sparda2020 Sat Nov 7 9:50am EST

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    go raps
  23. coy
    1. Posted by coy Sat Nov 7 3:41am EST

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    Dallas wins!
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Toronto
C. Bosh Chris Bosh
8-16,  26 Pts
12 Rebs, 1 Assists
 Dallas
D. Nowitzki Dirk Nowitzki
12-20,  29 Pts
9 Rebs, 4 Assists

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